The first production Ford Model T leaves the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Mich. It was the first car ever manufactured on an assembly line, with interchangeable parts. The auto industry was to become a major U.S. employer, accounting for as many as one of every eight to 10 jobs in the country .- Union Communication Services

Teamsters applaud veto of destructive Senate resolutionApr. 1, 2015| The Teamsters applauded President Obama's decision to veto a resolution backed by Congressional Republicans that would have blocked the National Labor Relations Board's rules designed to speed up the time it takes to unionize workers. The NLRB rule is scheduled to go into effect April 15, 2015. A description of the new rule and its reforms can be found here.

Baltimore could become the next Detroit. Seriously?Apr. 6, 2015| This isn’t exactly local union news but it IS news we want to alert you to because it’s bad news for hard-working people who rent in Baltimore. Think Progressreported Saturday that starting this week, 25,000 households in Baltimore will suddenly lose their access to water for owing bills of $250 or more, with very little notice given and no public hearings. City officials claim that residents using water without paying are to blame for the $40 million in overdue water bills. But the Baltimore Sun found that more than a third of those unpaid bills stem from just 369 businesses. (“Last year in Detroit, residents fought back against a similar plan to shut off water to customers with overdue bills.”) About half of Baltimore’s residents rent their homes, and most count on the property owners to pay the water bill. So why is this important? Central to this looming crisis is an issue of Human Rights.

NLRB to issue complaint against Sysco, bring justice to fired TeamstersApr. 8, 2015| The Federal Government is weighing in on the side of workers at Sysco in Atlanta who were wrongly terminated after their successful campaign to join Teamsters Local 528. The NLRB told the union last week that it will be issuing a complaint against the company and seeking reinstatement and back pay for the fired workers. The 11 fired Teamsters were part of a huge effort to organize more than 400 coworkers who are drivers and warehouse workers for Sysco. Full story…

Horseshoe Baltimore Casino workers bet on unionApr.8, 2015| The Horseshoe Baltimore Casino is now officially union. The cards were counted last week and a strong majority of Horseshoe workers voted in favor of representation by the National Gaming Workers Coalition, comprised of Unite Here Local 7, Teamsters Local 355, Operating Engineers Local 37 and the UAW. The Horseshoe has recognized the union and dates will soon be set for negotiations on wages, benefits and working conditions.

Pictures available from photo session with President HoffaApr. 10, 2015| Images taken by Teamster Joint Council 62 at the March 4th photo shoot are available for viewing in the photo gallery. To request copies, email us here. Copies of the official photographs taken by the IBT and signed by President Hoffa were received this week and will be available at Sunday's general membership meetings.

Failed fast track is nearly upon us – againApr. 13, 2015| Despite the Teamsters and our allies making clear that U.S. residents will be hurt if fast track can be used to quickly push secret trade deals like the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through Congress, some lawmakers had decided to side with big business instead. But unfortunately, the fight doesn't end there. [The TPP Fast Track bill will be introduced in the Senate Tuesday.] This union and others who care about hard-working Americans are gearing up for a fight, and will need everyone who can to join in. Read on… [The TPP will outsource jobs, undercut workers' rights, dismantle labor, environmental, health, food safety, and financial laws, and allow corporations to challenge our laws in international tribunals rather than our own court system.]

HBO renews 'Veep' for Season 5, but return to Maryland uncertain Apr. 14, 2015| …That's because creator Armando Iannucci is leaving the series and a new showrunner, David Mandel, will be taking over. Since showrunners are responsible for getting series made and delivered to an outlet like HBO for distribution, they sometimes have the power to say where the series will be produced. With an infrastructure in place in Maryland, a return makes sense. But it is not guaranteed with Iannucci leaving. Full story… [Local 355 represents workers employed in the film industry.]

Teamsters take stand against fast trackApr. 16, 2015| The Teamsters joined some 1,200 fellow union members and far trade advocates at a Capitol Hill rally yesterday to call on Congress to stop pushing for fast track trade promotion authority that would allow a quick up-or-down vote on bad trade deals like the TPP… Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, called on workers to head to the halls of Congress and let their members know their thoughts on fast track: "You make sure you tell them you put them there and you can take them out of there!" Full story...

Breaking news: Fast Track legislation introduced in Congress todayApr. 16, 2015| The fast track bill hit Congress today and we need your help to stop it. This bill will put good Teamster jobs in jeopardy. The TPP, the "NAFTA of the Pacific," will mean even more jobs sent overseas, lower wages for the jobs that remain, unsafe food and possibly a ban on our "Buy American" procurement laws and regulations. If Fast Track becomes law, however, Congress won't be able to change a single provision of the agreement. Please email your Representative and Senators right now and ask that they oppose Fast Track if it's brought up for a vote. The Teamsters Union has stopped Fast Track before. With your help, we will stop it again.

Every Monday: New information for members and stewardsApr. 20, 2015| Members, do you know what a contract campaign is? Or why it's important to file a grievance in a timely manner? Stewards, need a refresher on your rights as a shop steward? When past practice is relevant? Worried about confidentiality issues? Every Monday we provide answers to those questions and more with tips to help you learn more about your role in the Local Union. Available under Members Resources - This Week's Member Tip and Weekly Steward Tip. (Note: Forgot your password? Email teamstersjc62@gmail.com for assistance.)

Fire battalion chiefs unanimously approve their first Teamster contractApr. 21, 2015| Local 355's newest unit ratified on Friday, April 17, 2015, a one year contract with Anne Arundel County that includes the resolution of their primary objective: a substantial increase in their extra shift bonus pay. The County rejected the Union's bargaining proposal that would pay the group time-and-a-half for extra shifts. The rejection forced an impasse and the Union’s subsequent call for arbitration. Battalion chiefs regularly work extra shifts for which they receive a lump sum payment that is significantly less than the time-and-a-half pay received by those in lower pay grades. Last week's scheduled arbitration was avoided when the County made an offer to settle the dispute. "We believe the County views us differently now that we have the support of the Teamsters Union," said shop steward Michael Smith. Read more here.

Teamsters protest Sysco at DC lobbying meeting *Apr. 21, 2015| (* Updated 4/22) More than 70 Teamsters took part in a raucous rally Tuesday, April 21 to blast Sysco’s bullying of workers, its labor law violations and other misdeeds. The group of Teamsters chanted slogans and handed out fliers outside a food service industry meeting in Washington, D.C. “It’s great to see such a big turnout to send Sysco the message that ‘enough is enough,’” said Ed Mulford, an employee and steward at US Foods in Baltimore, who is a member of Local 355 in Baltimore. “It’s about time somebody stood up to Sysco’s arrogance. The company feels like it can do what it wants to do to their employees, to their customers and other players in the industry.” Full story here.

Sysco argues in favor of merger with US FoodsApr. 24, 2015| Sysco Corp. is arguing in federal court that there is no national market for broadline foodservice distribution, and that local markets remain highly competitive, the company said Wednesday. The Houston-based distributor is trying to get past a Federal Trade Commission move to block its proposed merger with US Foods, the nation’s second largest distributor, and the only other broadline distributor, at least before the merger, with a national reach...The FTC has requested a preliminary injunction to stop the merger, and a hearing on the injunction is scheduled for May 5. The hearing is expected to be key, because the loser of the injunction is expected to drop out. Full story…

Don’t miss the deadline for Local 355’s annual scholarshipApr. 27, 2015| The Local Union’s scholarships for sons or daughters of Local 355 members is good standing will be awarded at our upcoming meeting on Sunday, May 3. There’s no test to take. Just check out the eligibility requirements here, download and fill out the application, and drop off the completed form addressed to Secretary-Treasurer David White’s attention at the Baltimore office no later than this Friday 5pm. Good luck!

Today is Worker’s Memorial Day: “Speak Out for Safe Jobs”Apr. 28, 2015| Every year, about 4,400 people are killed at work and 50,000 workers die from occupational diseases while millions more are injured. The Teamsters Union, and trade journalists around the world, recognize April 28 as Workers’ Memorial Day – and international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made ill by their work... To help mark this important day, our union has background information on this day of rememberance, and provided these resources to help you start a conversation with coworkers or plan activities in your workplaces.

Atlanta Sysco workers reinstated, receive full back payApr. 29, 2015| …Fourteen union activists terminated by Sysco during a Teamster organizing campaign in Atlanta, Ga. will be returned to their jobs with full back pay after the company issued unconditional offers to return to work Monday, April 27. Full story…